Dixon+v.+Alabama+State+Board+of+Education

** Dixon v. Alabama State Board of Education ** ** United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit ** ** August 4, 1961 ** ** Background: ** Six former African American Alabama State College students entered a public lunchroom at the Montgomery County Courthouse and were refused service. After being denied service, all six were expelled from the college on accounts of unlawfully seeking service in a publicly owned lunchroom. Several demonstrations were held following the expulsion. One demonstration occurred when approximately twenty-nine African American students along with the six expelled students entered the same lunchroom seeking service and were once again denied. The Alabama State Board of Education felt that the several demonstrations that were taking place were becoming disruptive and they therefore expelled nine students including the six students previously expelled and the Board also placed twenty students on probation. The students were not given any explanation for their expulsion. Thequestion is whether “due process requires notice and some opportunity for hearing before students at a tax-supported college are expelled for misconduct.”
 * Posted by: Mary Bryson, Whitney Harris and Tiffany Thompson **

** Decision/Rationale: ** There was never any evidence to support the expulsion of the nine students as well as the probation of twenty other students. Dr. Trenholm, the President of Alabama State College, stated that he “did not know why the plaintiffs and three additional students were expelled and twenty other students were placed on probation.” The expulsion notice he sent to the students contained no reasoning other than a “general term” stating “this problem.” The court decided, that to protect the rights of the student, a notice should contain a statement of the charges in which the student is being expelled. There should also be a hearing to discuss both sides where the student is able to defend himself. If these rules are followed then due process requirements are fulfilled.

** Impact on Teaching: ** Through the Court’s decision in, //Dixon v. Alabama State Board of Education//, students are required to be given their due process. If student misconduct occurs and the student is going to be given an expulsion notice, administration is required to present the full charges in which the student is being expelled. Along with a full description of the charges, a hearing should be conducted and the student should be given the opportunity to present his/her side of the story. Taking these steps should allow all students to be given their full due process requirements.

**Applicable Quiz Question:** True/False Through the decision of //Dixon v. Alabama State Board of Education//, a student’s due process rights are revoked.